Baker's jazz band fuses talent into great sound

IU students are lucky: Rather than having to travel to Indianapolis or Chicago to experience a great jazz concert, students can stay right in Bloomington and experience jazz magic from IU's top jazz band. Monday night, the IU jazz band, directed by world-renowned jazz musician, composer and music professor David Baker, performed its final single concert (it is slated to appear in a concert with IU's other jazz bands later this semester). \nThe impressive first set consisted of three songs: "Sunfest" and "Miami Nights," from Baker's Miami Suite and "Eye of the Hurricane," by Herbie Hancock. The band was on top of its game Monday. The saxophone, brass and rhythm sections were tight. Rather than a crew of approximately 20 playing basically the same music with some variations, this group actually gave the impression that the entire jazz band was one instrument. Rising above the one big instrument were numerous impressive soloists. Especially notable was drummer Bryson Kern, a senior majoring in jazz studies and percussion. Many times, drum solos begin to sound static. Still, Kern utilized various textures from the drums and cymbals to create a tasteful solo that never got dull. \nAlso impressive was the incredible composition by Baker on "Sunfest" and "Miami Nights." The pieces were driving and exciting, and both have a very good, well-established feel. Baker is truly a great jazz composer.\nAfter a brief intermission, the band returned to the stage for the main event -- "West Side Story" by Leonard Bernstein, as played by Stan Kenton and his orchestra.\nMany musicians know the music to "West Side Story" is some of the most difficult 20th century music. The music is intricate, with so many subtleties and it makes an impressive performance hard to come by. Each part, which is generally only covered by one person, is very exposed and the atmosphere of the entire piece depends on each person. The creative arrangement by Johnny Richards made these old standards even more interesting, and provided many surprises along the way. \nThe jazz band successfully performed the piece with style and grace. The music was emotional, capturing the feel of each scene from the stage musical. Especially impressive was "Taunting Scene," one of the most intense scenes in the stage musical. The "Taunting Scene" involves the rape of Anita, a Puerto Rican girl, by white gang members. Between Richard's arrangement and the band's emotional performance of the movement, the piece captured the rage, fear and panic audiences feel during that scene on stage.\nThe arrangements of the music were intriguing and offered a new twist to old standards. "I Feel Pretty," also from "Westside Story," was played at breakneck speed, which would have caused many jazz bands to fly off the handle and fall apart. But this band barely blinked an eye. \nThe most emotional moment probably came at the end, however. "Somewhere (Finale)" captured the beauty of the tragic love story told in "West Side Story." The music was heart-wrenchingly sad, yet hopeful and beautiful. The band captured that perfectly and it was a beautiful end to a wonderful concert by a phenomenal jazz band.